The exhibition retraces the destiny of a family now forgotten but with an illustrious past, the Camondo family. Spanning five generations, from Constantinople to Paris, from the dawn of the 19th century to 1945, they formed an incredible art collection and – by bequeathing it to the state – significantly contributed to the conservation and enrichment of France’s cultural heritage.

Zun vase in the form of an elephant © RMN / Thierry Ollivier - Three graces clock, attributed to Etienne-Maurice Falconet © RMN / all rights reserved - Torah scroll and case © RMN / Hervé Lewandowski - Kitagawa Utamaro, Love deeply hidden © RMN / Harry Bréjat

In Paris we already have the Nissim de Camondo museum in a splendid building bordering the Parc Monceau, but not all the family treasures can be found there.

Bankers (and philanthropists) that came to Paris in 1869, the Camondo family left its collection to the Louvre and the Musée des Arts décoratifs (amongst others), and this exhibition at the Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme brings together not only the Jewish religious objects belonging to the museum, but also 19th century furniture from the Louvre, impressionist masterpieces from the musée d’Orsay (Degas, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Delacroix, Manet, Sisley, Jongkind), Asian works of art from the musée Guimet (Chinese sculptures, Japonese engravings), as well as loans from the musée Carnavalet, musée des Beaux-Arts de Lille and the musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon.

Edgar Degas, The Ironers © RMN (Musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski - Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Corot's workshop. Young woman sat before an easel © RMN / Gérard Blot - Eugène Delacroix, Passing a ford in Morocco © RMN (Musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski

The clauses of Moïse de Camondo’s will forbid loans of any article from the Nissim de Camondo museum collection, but the Decorative Arts museums have still actively contributed to the exhibition via loans of archive material and personal items belonging to the family.

Related events include conferences, a concert and a 160-page catalogue.

The exhibition Camondo’s Splendour – La splendeur des Camondo – De Constantinople à Paris (1806-1945) is at the Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme (here) from 6th November 2009 – 7th March 2010. Open Monday – Friday from 11am – 6pm and Sunday 10am – 6pm. Late night opening on Wednesdays until 9pm (last ticket at 8.15pm). Exhibition admission 7 € / 4.50 €. Exhibition + museum: 9.50 € / 6.50 €

Official site: www.mahj.org